Planning Scotland's Seas: 2013 - The Scottish Marine Protected Area Project – Developing the Evidence Base for Impact Assessments and the Sustainability Appraisal Final Report - Appendix E - Marine Site Reports
This is Appendix E for the pMPA Impact and Sustainability Report containing the detailed site by site reports. Published separately due to size.
Wyre and Rousay Sounds ( WYR)
Site Area (km 2): 18
Site Summary
Table 1. Summary of Proposed Protected Features, Data Confidence and Conservation Objectives | [ WYR] | ||||
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Proposed protected features | |||||
Biodiversity Features Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment, maerl beds. Geodiversity Features Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - components to be confirmed by SNH. Site Description The Wyre and Rousal MPA proposal covers the sounds between the islands of Rousay, Wyre and Egilsay in Orkney, north Scotland. The area covers channels swept by the tides of the Atlantic and the North Sea supporting large beds of maerl and kelp and seaweed communities. |
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Summary of confidence in presence, extent and condition of proposed protected features and conservation objectives | |||||
Proposed Protected Feature | Estimated Area of Feature (by scenario) (km 2) | Confidence in Feature Presence |
Confidence in Feature Extent |
Confidence in Feature Condition |
Conservation Objective and Risk |
Biodiversity Features | |||||
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment | *Lower: 7.71 Intermediate: 17.62 Upper: 17.62 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 1996; Marine Scotland survey, 2011) | Partial - likely to extend further than records suggest | Not known | Conserve (uncertain) |
Maerl beds | Lower: 8.88 Intermediate: 8.88 Upper: 14.81 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 1996; Marine Scotland survey, 2011) | Yes | Not known | Conserve (uncertain) |
Geodiversity Features | |||||
Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed -components to be confirmed by SNH | No | No | Not known | ||
Key: * Estimated area based on best available data References: Area of Feature: GeMs Confidence in feature presence and extent: SNH (2012q) |
Summary of Costs and Benefits
Table 2a. Site-Specific Economic Costs on Human Activities arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (present value of total costs over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ WYR] | ||
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Human Activity | Cost Impact on Activity | ||
Lower Estimate (£Million) | Intermediate Estimate (£Million) | Upper Estimate (£Million) | |
Quantified Economic Costs (Discounted) | |||
Aquaculture (Finfish) | 0.002 | 0.009 | 0.009 |
Commercial Fisheries* | <0.001 | 0.002 | 0.042 |
Energy Generation | 0.012 | 0.024 | 0.068 |
Total Quantified Economic Costs | 0.014 | 0.035 | 0.119 |
Non-Quantified Economic Costs | |||
Aquaculture (Finfish) |
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Commercial Fisheries |
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Energy Generation |
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Recreational Boating |
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Note: For detailed information on economic cost impacts on activities, see Table 4. * These estimates (present value of total change in GVA) assume zero displacement of fishing activity and hence are likely to overestimate the costs. |
Table 2b. Site-Specific Public Sector Costs arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ WYR] | ||
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Description | Public Sector Costs | ||
Lower Estimate (£Million) | Intermediate Estimate (£Million) | Upper Estimate (£Million) | |
Quantified Public Sector Costs (Discounted) | |||
Preparation of Marine Management Schemes | None | None | None |
Preparation of Statutory Instruments | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.004 |
Development of voluntary measures | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Site monitoring | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Compliance and enforcement | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Promotion of public understanding | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Regulatory and advisory costs associated with licensing decisions | 0.001* | 0.002* | 0.003* |
Total Quantified Public Sector Costs | 0.005 | 0.006 | 0.007 |
Non-Quantified Public Sector Costs | |||
None identified. | |||
* Regulatory and advisory costs of finfish and shellfish aquaculture assessed at national level. |
Table 2c. Summary of Social Impacts and Distribution of Quantified Impacts arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ WYR] | |||||||||
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Key Areas of Social Impact | Description | Scale of Expected Impact across Scenarios, Average (mean no. of jobs affected) | Distributional Analysis | |||||||
Location | Fishing Groups Predominantly Affected | Social Groups Affected | ||||||||
Region | Port | Rural/ Urban/ Island | Gear Types Most Affected | Vessels most affected | Crofters | Ethnic minorities | With disability or long term sick | |||
Employment with consequent impacts on: Health, Crime, Environment, and Culture and Heritage | Commercial fisheries - Loss of jobs (direct and indirect) | Lower: 0 jobs Intermediate: 0 jobs Upper: 0 jobs |
North | There is currently no information available, although likely to include Kirkwall. | Impacts concentrated in island coastal areas | Cannot be identified for confidentiality reasons. | Lower: <15m Upper: <15m | No Impact. | No Impact. | No employment data but unlikely to be employed in fisheries.. |
If any energy generation developments do not proceed as a result of designation (due to additional costs, project delays, loss of investor confidence), there may be significant social impacts due to job losses (non-quantified). | ||||||||||
Note: For detailed information on socio-economic impacts by sector, see Table 7a. For more detailed information on distributional impacts of quantified costs by sector see Tables 7b and 7c. |
Table 2d. Site-Specific Benefits arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ WYR] | |
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Benefit | Description | |
Ecosystem Services Benefits (Moderate and High Benefits) | Relevance | Scale of Benefits |
Fish for human consumption | High. The site provides supporting services, including contribution to food webs and nursery habitats. | Low - Moderate |
Fish for non-human consumption | ||
Non-use value of natural environment | Moderate - High. Variety of protected features. | Low - Moderate |
Other Benefits | ||
Tourism | Higher biodiversity due to designation, and presence of designations, may attract more tourism activity to local economy. | |
Contribution to ecologically coherent network | See report Section 7.5. | |
Note: For detailed information on ecosystem services benefits, see Tables 9 and 10. For detailed information on other benefits, see Table 5 (activities that would benefit) and Table 8 (contribution to ecologically-coherent network). |
Summary of Overlaps and Interactions between Proposed Designated Features and Human Activities
Table 3. Overlaps and Potential Interactions between Features and Activities under different Scenarios, indicating need for Assessment of Cost Impacts on Human Activities from Designation of the Site as an MPA | [ WYR] | ||||||||||||||||
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Aggregates | Aquaculture (Finfish) | Aquaculture (Shellfish) | Aviation | Carbon Capture & Storage | Coastal Protection | Commercial Fisheries | Energy Generation | Military Activities | Oil & Gas | Ports & Harbours | Power Interconnectors | Recreational Boating | Shipping | Telecom Cables | Tourism | Water Sports | |
Biodiversity Features | |||||||||||||||||
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment | - | I/U | - | - | - | - | L/I/U | L/ I/ U | - | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Maerl beds | - | L/I/U | - | - | - | - | L/ I/ U | L/ I/ U | - | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Geodiversity Features | |||||||||||||||||
Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - components to be confirmed by SNH | Not considered to be sensitive at the levels of exposure expected from human activities; thus, not considered in the context of management. | ||||||||||||||||
Note: L = Lower Scenario; I = Intermediate Scenario; U = Upper Scenario. Normal font indicates that there is an overlap between the activity and proposed designated feature under that scenario, bold indicates that the overlap results in a potential interaction between the activity and proposed designated feature that has resulted in cost impacts under that scenario. For detail of management measures assessed under each scenario for each activity, and results of the cost estimates, see Table 4. |
Human Activity Summaries
Human activities that would be impacted by designation of the site as an MPA
Table 4a. Aquaculture (Finfish) | [ WYR] | ||
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Three finfish farms are located within the boundary of the WYR proposed MPA. These are the Bay of Ham, Bay of Vady and Kirk Noust. The Bay of Ham and the Bay of Vady directly overlap with the feature Kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities under the intermediate and upper scenarios. Kirk Noust directly overlaps with this feature under all scenarios. All three sites are within 1km of this feature under all scenarios. The Bay of Ham and Kirk Noust directly overlap with the feature Maerl Bed feature under the upper and all scenarios respectively. All three sites are within 1km of this feature under al scenarios. There is no public information on potential future development within the proposed MPA. In the absence of information on potential future developments, the assessment has focused on the costs associated with obtaining new CAR licences. A national assessment of the costs of obtaining planning permission for new developments is provided separately. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.003 | 0.013 | 0.013 |
Average annual costs | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.001 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.002 | 0.009 | 0.009 |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4b. Commercial Fisheries (assuming zero displacement of fishing activity) | [ WYR] | ||
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According to VMS-based estimates and ICES rectangle landings statistics, pots, hand fishing, dredges and other gears (under-15m vessels) operate within the WYR proposed MPA. There is no over-15m vessel activity within the area. The value of catches from the WYR area was £12,900 (under-15m vessels, indicated from ICES rectangle landings data) (annual average for 2007-2011, 2012 prices). Provisional ScotMap data indicate that the annual average earnings from the WYR proposed MPA was £67,500, with over 70% of this from pots and the remainder from diving. No value was indicated for trawls, indicating that the estimates of value of landings from the ICES rectangle data is likely to over-estimate the impact on under-15m trawls. However, the impact on pots may be an under-estimate, with the total value of annual average earnings from pots in the WYR area being £0.05 million (although the whole value would not be impacted by the management measures assessed). The coverage for ScotMap interviews in the region was 90.2% (total value of reported landings from the Fisheries Information Network for those vessels included in the ScotMap value analysis expressed as a percentage of the total reported landings for all vessels <15m). Therefore, the ScotMap estimate is likely to be a good representation the value of fishing by under-15m vessels, and the spatial representation of the value of fishing is fairly robust due to the high level of coverage. VMS data indicate that there are no non- UK vessels fishing within the WYR proposed MPA. Management measures for the scenarios have been developed based on the sensitivity and vulnerability of the features to the pressures caused by different gear types and SNH recommendations. Unlike most other sectors, the potential cost of designation on commercial fisheries is a loss or displacement of current (and future) output, caused by restrictions on fishing activities. Any decrease in output will, all else being equal, reduce the Gross Value Added ( GVA) generated by the sector and have knock-on effects on the GVA generated by those industries that supply commercial fishing vessels. The costs estimates for this sector have therefore been estimated in terms of GVA. GVA estimates have been generated by applying fleet segment-specific 'GVA/total income' ratios to the value of landings affected. The GVA ratios have been calculated using data on total income and GVA from the Sea Fish Industry Authority Multi-year Fleet Economic Performance Dataset (published March 2013). Further details on the GVA ratios and the methodology for estimating GVA and employment impacts applied are presented in Appendix C7. It is important to note that all costs presented below assume that all affected landings are lost, that is, there is no displacement of fishing activity to alternative fishing grounds. In reality, some displacement is likely to occur and hence the cost, GVA and employment impacts presented in this table are likely to overestimate the costs. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.002 | 0.005 | 0.086 |
Average annual costs | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.004 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.002 | 0.003 | 0.063 |
Economic Impacts (£Million) | |||
Total change in GVA (2014-2033) | 0.001 | 0.003 | 0.056 |
Average annual change to GVA | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.003 |
Present value of total change in GVA (2014-2033) | 0.000 | 0.002 | 0.042 |
Direct and Indirect reduction in Employment | 0.0 jobs | 0.0 jobs | 0.0 jobs |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. Total change in GVA (2014-2033) = The change in direct GVA in the sector for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual change to GVA = Total change in direct GVA in the sector for the site divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total change in GVA (2014-2033) = Total change in direct GVA in the sector for the site discounted to current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. Direct and Indirect reduction in Employment = The average (mean) reduction in direct employment in the sector plus the indirect reduction in employment on the sector's suppliers. |
Table 4c. Energy Generation | [ WYR] | ||
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Under intermediate and upper extent scenarios, the Fall of Warness (European Marine Energy Centre ( EMEC), up to 4MW capacity) tidal energy generation test site is within 5km of the feature kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities within the WYR proposed MPA boundary. However, given the feature is not sensitive to tidal developments and taking SNH management options into account, no additional cost impacts are anticipated associated with the deployment of prototypes at this location. Planning is currently in progress ( i.e. pre-application) for the Westray South ( SSE Renewables Developments ( UK) Limited, 200MW capacity) tidal energy generation development. Under all scenarios, the Westray South tidal development is located within 5km of the features maerl beds ( OSPAR and BAP designated) and kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities within the WYR proposed MPA boundary. Additional assessment of the interaction with these features could be required. A tidal energy generation Area of Search (AoS) overlaps the MPA feature kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities under the upper scenario for the WYR proposed MPA. Additional assessment of the interaction with this feature could be required. In addition, one potential future export cable route for tidal energy generation developments (Fall of Warness and Westray South) overlaps the MPA features maerl beds and kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities for all scenarios. It is possible that re-routing of cables would be necessary to avoid direct overlap with these features, although developers are likely to have taken this into account, especially given the feature's OSPAR and BAP designation. Therefore, only additional survey costs are expected under the upper scenario. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.012 | 0.024 | 0.071 |
Average annual costs | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.004 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.012 | 0.024 | 0.068 |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4d. Recreational Boating | [ WYR] | ||
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There are no cruising routes for recreational boating that intersect the WYR proposed MPA. Under the upper scenario, there are four anchorages for recreational boating that overlap with proposed protected features within the MPA proposal boundary. All four of these anchorages (and associated 100m buffer zones) overlap with feature extents for kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities and maerl beds. Under the intermediate and lower scenarios, SNH have identified two anchorages in Wyre Sound and one commercial anchorage in Rousay Sound overlap with records of maerl beds. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Human activities that would benefit from designation of the site as an MPA
Human activities that are present but which would be unaffected by designation of the site as an MPA
Table 6. Human Activities that are Present but which would be Unaffected by Designation of the Site as an MPA [ WYR] | |
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Activity | Description |
Power Interconnectors | Three existing power interconnectors overlap with the WYR proposed MPA. Two power interconnectors overlap with kelp and seaweed communities (all scenarios) and maerl beds (all scenarios). The third power interconnector overlaps with kelp and seaweed communities (intermediate and upper scenarios) and maerl beds (upper scenario). Two additional power interconnectors are also within 1km of maerl beds (one under all scenarios and one under the upper scenario only) and kelp and seaweed sublittoral communities (both under the intermediate and upper scenarios). No cost impacts are foreseen, as it is assumed that there will be no review of the existing consents. |
Social and Distributional Analysis of Impacts from Designation of the Site as an MPA
Potential Contribution of the Site to an Ecologically-Coherent Network
Table 8. Overview of Features Proposed for Designation and how these contribute to an Ecologically Coherent Network of MPAs | [ WYR] | ||||
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Feature Name | Representation | Replication | Linkages | Geographic Range and Variation |
Resilience |
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment | Provides representation for kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment in OSPAR Region II. | Represents one of two areas recommended for protection within OSPAR Region II and one of four in Scottish seas. | |||
Maerl beds | Provides representation for maerl beds in OSPAR Region II. | Represents one of two areas recommended for the protection of maerl beds in OSPAR Region II and one of five in Scottish waters. | Maerl beds are listed by OSPAR as threatened and/or declining. MPA area may increase resilience. | ||
JNCC (pers. comm.); SNH and JNCC. (2012). Assessment of the potential adequacy of the Scottish MPA network for MPA search features: summary of the application of the stage 5 selection guidelines. Available online from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork/engagement/270612. |
Anticipated Benefits to Ecosystem Services
Table 9. Summary of Ecosystem Services Benefits arising from Designation of the Site as an MPA [17] | [ WYR] | |||||||
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Services | Relevance to Site |
Baseline Level | Estimated Impacts of Designation | Value Weighting | Scale of Benefits | Confidence | ||
Lower | Intermediate | Upper | ||||||
Fish for human consumption | High. Support food web and contain nursery habitats. | Extent of habitats uncertain | Low | Low - Moderate. Protection of shellfish beds can contribute to maintenance and recovery of stocks - benefits are higher under stronger protection measures but ecosystem response is uncertain. | Moderate. Commercially valuable species supported. | Low - Moderate | Low, uncertain if habitats need to recover. | |
Fish for non-human consumption |
Uncertain | |||||||
Gas and climate regulation | Minimal | From kelp and seaweed communities | Low - Moderate, dependent on avoiding decline or restoring kelp & seaweed communities. | Moderate, social cost of carbon | Minimal | High | ||
Natural hazard protection | Low | Low | Nil | Low | Nil | High | ||
Regulation of pollution | Moderate, benthic communities regulate pollution | Low, major water quality issues to be dealt with through WFD | Minimal, if protection avoids damage or allows recovery of habitats. | Low, water quality in this area not affecting human welfare | Minimal, increase in this service unlikely | Moderate | ||
Non-use value of natural environment | Moderate - High, variety of protected features, and contribution of the site to MPA network, have non-use value. | Non-use value of the site may be reduced through damage | Low, if protection avoids damage or allows recovery of habitats, service could increase | Low, small site but contribution to halting decline of marine biodiversity. | Low - Moderate | Moderate, value to society uncertain | ||
Recreation | Low | Some angling and recreational boating routes | Low, angling benefits and biodiversity encountered by recreational boaters may avoid deterioration or recover. | Low, some activities, but substitutes are available. | Nil - Low | Moderate | ||
Research and Education | Low | Low, small number of biological features have research value and there are substitutes | Low, if protection avoids damage or allows recovery of habitats, service could increase | Low | Low | Low - Moderate, extent to which research uses site in future uncertain | ||
Total value of changes in ecosystem services | Low for lower scenario, Low for upper scenarios | Low | Low |
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